The President of the UN General Assembly convened the first system-wide meeting on Thursday, dedicated to galvanizing action towards implementing the ground-breaking blueprint, known as Our Common Agenda, launched last year by the Secretary-General.
βThe well-being of people around the world, the health of our planet, and the survival of future generations depend on our willingness to come together around a commitment to collective problem-solving and actionβ, said UN chief AntΓ³nio Guterres. βWe donβt have a moment to loseβ.
He urged those attending the first of five thematic consultations at UN Headquarters, the first devoted to Accelerating and Scaling up the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to βmake progress on the substance and the search for consensus, as much as possible this yearβ.
Getting βback on trackβ
With only eight years until 2030, and with COVID-19 driving the world further off track, the UN chief said that the reportβs recommendations aim to get the world βback on trackβ towards achieving the SDGs.
βEach proposal will promote progress across other goals, and indeed our broader pursuit of peace and human rightsβ.
It calls for a New Global Deal to share power, wealth and opportunities more broadly at the international level, and allow developing countries to focus their resources on sustainable, inclusive development.
βThe New Global Deal will rebalance power and financial resources, enabling developing countries to invest in the 2030 Agenda and the SDGsβ, he said.
Achieving the goals
Noting that βthere is no one-size-fits-all social contractβ, Mr. Guterres reminded that Our Common Agenda proposes an intergovernmental World Social Summit in 2025 to βcoordinate action and create momentum on a global scaleβ towards reaching the goals, while taking stock of efforts to renew the social contract.
βThe ending of poverty in all its forms everywhere is not just the objective of SDG 1, but the primary objective of the 2030 Agenda itselfβ, he stated.
βPoverty is not only the absence of incomeβ, he said, advocating for a global economy that works for all, including safeguarding public health, reforming the worldβs financial system, and protecting the environment.
Learning crisis
The UN chief highlighted three issues βat the heart of our commitmentβ to leave no one behind, that require urgent action.
First, he described the current learning crisis, as βa disaster first and foremost for the worldβs young peopleβ¦[with] very serious implications for the future of our societiesβ.
Without functioning education systems, he said that the world would not be able to meet the needs of labour markets, advance gender equality and human rights, or strengthen democratic institutions.
To address this, a Transforming Education Summit will be held in September to reignite a collective commitment to education and lifelong learning as a pre-eminent public good; mobilize action to recover lost progress; and promote a reimagining of education and innovation.
The Deputy Secretary-General will lead Summit preparations and Mr. Guterres will be appointing a Special Adviser in the coming weeks.
Gender equality
Although women and girls are central to every social contract, the UN chief pointed out that βtheir specific needs and aspirations are largely ignored, and their work is routinely undervaluedβ.
The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the unpaid care work β mainly done by women β that enables much of society to function, while intensifying a shadow pandemic of increased violence against women and girls.
Against this backdrop, he has asked Deputy Secretary-General to review the UNβs capacity on gender βto ensure gender equality is at the core of everything we doβ.
βI encourage Member States to use these consultations to consider my proposals and how inter-governmental processes can deliver better for half the worldβs peopleβ, said the top UN official.
Youth, βa driving forceβ
Turning to young people, Mr. Guterres highlighted the power of youth engagement and the importance of their voices across the UN system and beyond, recalling his proposal to establish an Office on Youth.
βThe creation of a dedicated capacity focusing on young peopleβ¦would have a meaning that goes far beyond its institutional significanceβ by making the entire UN system βaccountable in delivering for and with young peopleβ, he explained.
Not only would it signal a cultural transformation but also send a strong message that young people are βa driving forceβ within the Organization.
UN must βstep upβ: Shahid
President Abdulla Shahid reminded the inaugural consultation on the Common Agenda, that his βPresidency of Hopeβ was βfocused on solutions and concrete actions that look to deliver for people, planet, and prosperity.β
He said his priorities included a sustainable recovery from the pandemic, βrespecting the rights of all, protecting the planet and revitalizing the UN.β
βOurs is a world in need of hope. Hope that can only be inspired by unity, solidarity, and collective actionβ, he said, adding that βthis consultative processβ¦is key to delivering on each of those prioritiesβ.
βThe United Nations must step up; we must become more responsive and more effective for the people we serveβ, he stated.
Finding βcommon understandingsβ
Despite differences, Mr. Shahid maintained that βwe are but one familyβ, encouraging everyone to βfind a way forwardβ on the Agendaβs proposals.
βOur attempt should be to find the right mechanisms to ensure that we arrive at common understandingsβ.
Like fisherfolk, βletβs fill our boats with fishβ, rather than βcut the hook and return to the shore empty handedβ, he said.
The Assembly President closed by urging Member States to operate βin good faith, with mutual trust and respect, and with the common goal of enhancing our work and bettering the world around us.β
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